The Faithful: “Life, a beauty chased by tragic laughter.”

By John Masefield

John Edward Masefield was born in 1878 in the sleepy market town of Ledbury in rural Hertfordshire. An idyllic childhood was ruined when he was left an orphan and sent to live with an Aunt who decided his education and life would be better spent at sea. At age 13 he boarded a school ship and there his love of writing and reading blossomed. By 1899 he began to publish and apart from brief service during World War I he now had a life of writing and lecture tours. He published much; novels, poetry and even an account of the disastrous war effort in the Dardanelles at Gallipoli. Upon the death of Robert Bridges in 1930, Masefield was given the prestigious position of Poet Laureate, a role he would fulfill until his death; the only poet to hold the position for a longer period was Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Despite later ill health and the death of his wife in 1960, Masefield continued to write. In 1966, he published his last book of poems, In Glad Thanksgiving, at the age of 88. In the latter part of 1966 gangrene was diagnosed in his ankle. This gradually spread through his leg and claimed his life on May 12, 1967. He was cremated and his ashes placed in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey. Here we present The Faithful.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Copyright Group
• Release date: Jan 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781785431173

John Masefield

John Masefield was a well-known English poet and novelist. After boarding school, Masefield took to a life at sea where he picked up many stories, which influenced his decision to become a writer. Upon returning to England after finding work in New York City, Masefield began publishing his poetry in periodicals, and then eventually in collections. In 1915, Masefield joined the Allied forces in France and served in a British army hospital there, despite being old enough to be exempt from military service. After a brief service, Masefield returned to Britain and was sent overseas to the United States to research the American opinion on the war. This trip encouraged him to write his book Gallipoli, which dealt with the failed Allied attacks in the Dardanelles, as a means of negating German propaganda in the Americas. Masefield continued to publish throughout his life and was appointed as Poet Laureate in 1930. Masefield died in 1967 the age of 88.

Book preview

The Faithful by John Masefield 

A TRAGEDY IN THREE ACTS

John Edward Masefield was born in 1878 in the sleepy market town of Ledbury in rural Hertfordshire.

An idyllic childhood was ruined when he was left an orphan and sent to live with an Aunt who decided his education and life would be better spent at sea.  At age 13 he boarded a school ship and there his love of writing and reading blossomed. 

By 1899 he began to publish and apart from brief service during World War I he now had a life of writing and lecture tours.  He published much; novels, poetry and even an account of the disastrous war effort in the Dardanelles at Gallipoli.

Upon the death of Robert Bridges in 1930, Masefield was given the prestigious position of Poet Laureate, a role he would fulfill until his death; the only poet to hold the position for a longer period was Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Despite later ill health and the death of his wife in 1960, Masefield continued to write. In 1966, he published his last book of poems, In Glad Thanksgiving, at the age of 88.

In the latter part of 1966 gangrene was diagnosed in his ankle. This gradually spread through his leg and claimed his life on May 12, 1967. He was cremated and his ashes placed in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster Abbey.

Index of Contents

NOTE

PERSONS

SCENES

TIME

ACT I

Scene I

Scene II

ACT II

Scene

ACT III

Scene I

Scene II

Scene III

Scene IV

John Masefield – A Short Biography

John Masefield – A Concise bibliography

NOTE

This play is written to be played uninterruptedly, with out more break in the action than is necessary to get the actors off the stage and to raise the screen or curtain dividing the scenes.

There are only two scenes: one the front part of the stage, left quite bare, without decoration, but with a screen, set, or backcloth at the back, representing a Japanese landscape, with hills and water, all wintry and severe; the other, the back of the stage, visible when this screen is lifted, a room in a Japanese palace, very beautiful, but bare, save for a few flowers and a picture or two.

A few minutes may elapse between Acts I and II, and a slightly longer wait between Acts II and III.

PERSONS

Asano, A Daimyo. A Poor Girl.

Kurano, his Counsellor. Lady Kurano.

Hazama. A Captain of Kira's guards.

Shoda. Chikara, Kurano' s son.

Kira, A Daimyo. First Ronin.

Sagisaka, his Counsellor. Second do.

Kamei, A Daimyo. Third do.

Honzo, his Counsellor. Fourth do.

A Youth of Kira's palace. Fifth do.

A Woman of Kira's palace. A Herald.

The Envoy. Guards, Nobles, Attendants,

SCENES

In Act I, Scene I, throughout Act II, and in Scenes I, II, and IV of Act III, the scene is: An open space near Asano's palace.

In Act I, Scene II and in Act III, Scene III, the scene is: A room in Kira's palace.

TIME

Acts I and II, 10th March, 1701.

Act III, 10th March, 1702.

ACT I

Scene I.

The outer scene. Asano alone, dawn. A shaft of light strikes colour.

Asano

[Kneeling.] Light that my soul has followed, bless this beloved land, where I work with my men to make life nobler. For now my work here is threatened by an evil man, who draws nearer daily, violating Right and Law. [He rises and stands listening.] Kurano.

Kurano

[Off.] Is that you, Asano?

[Kurano enters]

Asano

Yes, my dear friend, I have waited for you; I need not ask your news, you bring no good news; I see that in your face.

Kurano

No; no good news. The Judges decided against us.

Asano

You bring yourself at least. Does your wife know?

Kurano

Yes. I have sent to tell her. The men are here, if you will speak with them; they all look to you to save them.

Asano

Let them come in. Do they guess that we have lost?

[Kurano lifts a hand to the men]

Kurano

Yes. They are all afraid of Kira. Come in, there.

[The men come in and crowd about the lower steps]

Voices

Asano! Master Asano! Save us and defend us, beloved master. Lord Kurano, beseech our master to help us!

Kurano

Still! Let the head man come forward. Stand there, Hazama. Our master will speak to you.

[Asano comes forward]

Voices

Master Asano! Master Asano! Defend us, master!

Asano

Friends and fellow-workers, it is now twenty years since I came among you on the death of my father. You know how, in that time, we have worked together, making this province one of the most fruitful, and quite the happiest, in the Empire. If I have failed in this or that, I know that I have won your friendship, and that you have been happy under me. Latterly, as you know, our happiness has been marred by the actions of an ambitious man, whom we now know as Lord Kira. Some of you can remember when that lord was a little boy, the son of a steward, in the house of old Lord Ashiza, who petted him for his cleverness. As you know, presently, when he grew up, he ousted the old lord and took his province. Since then, all of you have seen his treacheries bringing him nearer to this valley of ours, till at last nothing but the hills kept him from us. Last week Lord Kira claimed the hills and occupied them with hired troops, so that we could no longer pasture there. I made my protest against the seizure. Lord Kurano here has just returned from the Courts where the protest has been heard. He will read the Judges' finding.

Voices

Ah, our master has saved us!

Hazama

Silence, silence!

Kurano

The Judges have decided that the protest lodged by Lord Asano cannot stand, and that the head of the valley claimed by Lord Kira is, truly, Lord Kira's property, together with its inhabitants and their possessions. And to this they set their seals. [A moan passes over the crowd.]

Hazama

But the head of the valley is free land, between two lordships. It has been free for centuries. It cannot be Lord Kira's.

Kurano

The Judges have decided that it is.

First Ronin

And all that mountain pasture, and the glen where our river rises, is to be his?

Kurano

Yes.

Hazama

So. Now he is at our throats.

Asano

It is bad news; but not hopeless. We have failed in these Courts; but Lord Kira is not here yet. We may still stop him. We must turn, now, to our work. Meanwhile do not quarrel with Kira's men, whatever the provocation, and above all trust me, and be of good hope. After all, a way may be found. Dismiss, and to work, Hazama.

Hazama

We thank you,